Belt slipping

shansel88 · Jun 5, 2017

Rick Utley said:
Shansel88 that's what I am asking when you tightened the hell outta the belt did it stop slipping??!

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yes my skipping is completely gone and I am the same as you, more slipping under heavy acceleration and/or with passenger on the back. I am 240 passenger about 130 - it makes a big difference. You will eliminate the slipping by tightening the belt. I got tot he point where I decided id tighten it until it went away or broke and Id put a chain on it, i was so annoyed. But, I got it 1?8 twist max- and its never slipped or worn anything and that was over a year and few thousand miles ago.
Previously I took it to several shops that told me they couldnt recreate the slipping or that they adjusted belt to spec - either way, I'd just tighten it for 1/4 play to 1/8 play or educe the sag in half and take it out - if it gets better you know you are on the right track, if its gone, even better!

shansel88 · Jun 5, 2017

really think the issue is these bike have too much torque to have 350 lbs on them - and with older bikes and worn shocks and 100lbs sitting over the back tire. They slip unless the belt is tight. I dont think its really anything wrong. If you tighten belt and it gets better tighten it more - worst case is it doesn't fix issue- then you know its the clutch or something, I chased mine forever thinking it was the open primary slipping. Replaced every part in the clutch and the drive system just to fix it by tightening the belt. And I was doing it as last resort before converting to a chain - but i believe even with a chain - with that much weight and worn shocks there would be so much sag that I would have just had chain slap anyway.

Th3InfamousI · Jun 5, 2017

shansel88 said:
really think the issue is these bike have too much torque to have 350 lbs on them - and with older bikes and worn shocks and 100lbs sitting over the back tire. They slip unless the belt is tight. I dont think its really anything wrong. If you tighten belt and it gets better tighten it more - worst case is it doesn't fix issue- then you know its the clutch or something, I chased mine forever thinking it was the open primary slipping. Replaced every part in the clutch and the drive system just to fix it by tightening the belt. And I was doing it as last resort before converting to a chain - but i believe even with a chain - with that much weight and worn shocks there would be so much sag that I would have just had chain slap anyway.

The more weight the rider and passenger is the tighter the belt would be. Realistically a 150lb vs a 300lb person could have different experiences and require different belt tightness. A 150 lb rider would need a slightly tighter belt.

If your shocks are worn just replace them? Worn shocks would just mean the belt would stretch and or loosen at a greater rate. Experiences a skipping potentially right when clutch is pulled as weight moves off the rear, but once it starts pulling and weight shifts back belt will tighten.

Too tight or a drive belt will prematurely wear the transmission bearings.

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Th3InfamousI · Jun 6, 2017

Rick Utley said:
Ok guys so here is the Scooby I'm 200 wife 150 we both got on and I tested the belt better than a half inch maybe more up and down play I know that's entirely to much. But what about when I tighten and ride by myself is that gonna be to tight??!

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That's way too loose! Now makes sense why its slipping. Should be almost no noticeable deflection at that point with rider weight on it.

The deflection in the manual is done with the bike on the ground. It's 3/16" with bike on the ground. 1/2" though is okay. And honestly the looser you run it without slipping is better for the transmission. Lots of mechanics had mentioned the belt specs are too tight in the BDM manual

I shoot to the higher end 1/2" - 3/4" with bike on the ground on rider weight on the softail and then when I sit on it or takes out even more deflection. Rigid are different.

I wouldnt worry about the extra 150lbs that's not that much weight just tighten it where it doesn't slip for you and ride on.

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pknowles · Jun 6, 2017

This is an RC COMPONENT rear pulley that was in my wife's 2011 heritage. The general consensus at the local harley shop was either the belt was too loose or the belt was defective. Every tooth on the belt was cut loose on the load side. I ended up installing a new harley belt and stock pulley. So far so good.

BWG56 · Jun 6, 2017

pknowles said:
View attachment 45712
This is an RC COMPONENT rear pulley that was in my wife's 2011 heritage. The general consensus at the local harley shop was either the belt was too loose or the belt was defective. Every tooth on the belt was cut loose on the load side. I ended up installing a new harley belt and stock pulley. So far so good.

I heard she rides the bike much harder than you do

shansel88 · Jun 6, 2017

Just when done - lift tire off ground (easiest way) and spin rear wheel forward and make sure the belts tracks straight on the front pulley - stays center or left or wherever it is. Then spin tire backwards and verify the same thing. Its easier to see on the front pulley if it is going to move left/right - if it don't track straight in both direction - adjust the sides as needed.
You can rotate the tire 10 times or 100 times in each direction - the belt should stay in the same location on the front pulley and not walk left or right.

BWG56 · Jun 7, 2017

Rick Utley said:
Ok folks I'm feeling pretty silly right about now. Loosened axle tightened belt, tightened axle, and torqued to 72 Ft Lbs then I thought I would just make sure adjustment screws were snug after torquing axle bolt and the screws still actually pushed the axle back is this common? If you don't have an alignment tool anyone have a grand idea to align rear wheel other than counting threads or tape measure? Thanks...

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No its not common, are you sure the torque wrench is accurate? You can measure the 2 sides this way "B"

Hirter6Pack · Jun 7, 2017

I do it by putting an Allen wrench in the swing arm pivot bolt and measures to center of axial. Mine has two set screws per side.

Belt slipping

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